Cooling tower



' 1,632,397 June 14, 1927. J.. s; FLUOR COOLING TOWER /Hffwneki Patented vJune 14, 1927.

UNITED STATES PATENT GFFICE.

John sIIvroN FLUoR, oF Los ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, AssIGNoR To FLUoR coNsTRUo- 'rIoN oo., oF Los ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, A coRFoRA'rIoN oF CALIFORNIA.

COOLING TOWER.

Application led October 27, 1925; Serial No. 65,123.

Tlns invention relates to improvements in atmospheric cooling towers, and is an improvement over the tower disclosed in my eo-pending application, Serial No. 626,846 filed March 22, 1923.

An object of the invention is to provide a cooling tower consisting of supporting posts between which trays` are mounted in superposed relation, and to provide an improved construction for mounting louvers upon the supporting posts about the edges of the trays.

Another object of the invention is to provide a cooling tower having a plurality of superposed trays, each of which is formed of sections, so that any section may be readily removed and -repaired or replaced.

A further object of the invention is to provide a tray of improved construction adapted to be vused in a cooling tower, which because ofits construction is rigid, readily removable and especially adapted to aid in the distribution of water pouring through the tower.

With the foregoing and other objects in view which will be made manifest in the following detailed description and specifically pointed out in the appended claims, reference is had to the accompanying drawings for an illustrative embodiment of the invention, wherein:

Figure 1 is a sectional view illustrating approximately one-half of the cooling tower ot' the improved construction,

Fig. 2 is a horizontal section through the cooling tower,

Fig. 3 is a perspective view illustrating one of the sections forming the trays,

Fig. 4 is an enlarged side elevation illustratinrr the construction of the louvers, parts beingbbroken away and shown in section,

Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken substantially on the line 5--5 of Fig. 4, and

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary side elevation taken substantially in the direction of the arrow 6 upon Fig. 4.

Referring to the accompanying drawings wherein similar reference characters designate similar parts throughout, the atmospheric cooling tower is mounted upon some suitable tank or receptacle 10 and consists of supporting posts, such as those indicated at 11. These supporting posts may be connected by suitable cross braces 12 and 13, and upon their upper ends there is mounted 18 and 19 are staggered in relation to each other so that the side edges ot' the lower strips 19V are vertically beneath the side edges y of the upper strips 18. The upper strips 18 are bowed upwardly and the lower strips are bowed downwardly, so'that the vertical distance between the upper strips 18 and the lower strips 19 adjacent their centers is somewhat greater than the distance between the upper and lower strips aty their ends.

.The upper strips 18 expose the lower strips between them and as the upper strips are downwardly bowed, they will tend to disperse the water falling upon them. The water falling directly on the lower strips which falls on them from the upper strips will tend to be centralized because of the fact that the lower Vstrips .are upwardly bowed. In this way the water as it falls on each tray is caused to follow a somewhat zig-zag path on vpassing through each tray, thus prolonging the length of time during which the water descends through the cooling tower and enabling a longer contact with the air and consequently a more eiiicient cooling. Preferably there is a spacing member indicated at 17"'iL arranged between the upper and lower strips adgacent their centers to keep them in their properly bowed positions. This spacing member may be in the form of one of the end cleats 16 or 17 arranged vertically upon one of its edges. The sections are supported between the supporting posts in any suitable manner, such as upon horizontal members 20, and they merely rest thereon so as to be readily removable.

Louvers are mounted across the outside faces of the outer supporting posts, and the particular manner in which the louvers are mounted on the supportingp'osts constitutes an important feature of the invention. Suitable brackets or sockets, indicated at 21, are bolted against the outside faces of the outer .boards brackets supporting posts as by bolts 22. These .brackets have their upper ends outwardly and upwardly inclined, asindicated at 23, and are provided with side flanges 24. In the upwardly and outwardly inclined portion 23 there are formed two apertures 25 and 26, forming a crossbar 27 between them. Supporting members 28 have their lower ends mitered or beveled off so as to tit against the'supporting posts 11. The lower ends of these supporting members rest upon the brackets 21 between the flanges 24 and may be secured thereto by means of nails, screws or the like, indicated at 29, which are driven through the aperture 25 inthe brackets adjacent the top thereof. On the supporting members 28, which are upwardly and outwardly inclined, there are arranged louver boards which are formed of sections or strips of board indicated at 30. These strips are similar to those disclosed in my co-pending application and. have their ends reduced to provide half laps 31 which are dove-tailed in form so as toxbe thicker at their outer ends than at a point inwardly from the edges of the boards 30. In this manner if the boards 30 should dry and tend to shrink, the half laps will tighten against each other and prevent any leakage. Strips 32 are secured upon the upper surfacesof the boards 30 directly above the supporting members 28 and are secured to the supporting members as by bolts 33. Intermediate the top and bottom edges of. the louver 34 are secured preferably by means of one of the bolts 33 for fastening the strips 32 and the inclined supporting members 28 together.. These brackets 34 have apertures therethrough which receive one end'of a link or hanger 35. The ends of the links or hangers 35 are threaded to receive nuts 36 which are tightened against both faces of the brackets 34. The other end of'each of the hangers or links 35 is bent to form a hook which extends through the aperture 25 and are bent around the crossbar 27 and through the aperture 26. The

nuts 36 provide an adjustment for adjusting the inclination-of the louvers. In constructing cooling towers in accordance` with the principles of my invention, it is merely necessary to lay t e louvers in place on each bracket and connect them with -the bracket neXt above as shown, regardless of their inclination. When the tower is completed, a mechanic may climb from one louver to-another and with the aid of a suitable wrench may adjust the inclination of each louver so that they are parallel, and present a symmetrical appearance, thereby increasing the stability of the cooling tower and .consequently its efficiency.

' B the improved construction it will be readily appreciated that the brackets can be easily and quickly applied to the Supportand at the same time provide an adjustment of the inclination of the louvers. It will be readily appreciated that any louver can be easily detached and removed from the tower and that the sections of' any tray can also be easily removed.

From the above it will be appreciated that an improved construction in atmospheric cooling towers is provided, which lis simple in construction and provides a rigid, substantial connection for the louvers.

It will be understood that various chan es may be made in the detail of construction without departing from the spirit 4lor scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.l

I claim: l

l. Ina cooling tower, a tray consisting of two end cleats, strips having their ends secured to the end cleats and positioned in staggered relation uponpthe top and bottom sides of the end cleats, the upper strips being upwardly bowed being downwardly purpose described.

2. In a lcooling tower, a tray consisting of two end cleats, strips having their ends secured to the end cleats and positioned in staggered relation upon the top and bottom sides of the end cleats, the upper strips being upwardly bowed and the lower strips being downwardly bowed as and for the and the lower strips bowed as and for the purpose described, and a spacing member positioned between the end cleats and engaging said strips keeping them in their bowed positions.

3. In a cooling tower of the class described, a plurality of supporting posts, angular brackets secured to said supporting posts in superimposed relationship, said brackets having flat, upwardly inclined su porting portions, louvers resting at their lower ends upon said angular portions between the brackets and the supporting posts, and means 'connected to each louver intermediate its ends serving to fasten it to the bracket next above on said supporting posts.

4. A cooling tower comprising a plurality of supporting posts, brackets secured tothe supporting posts in superimposed relationship, said vbrackets presenting upwardly/'and outwardly inclined Hat supporting portions, a transverse bar beneath said bracket and a connecting rod having a hook on its end receivable on said bar, adapted to connect -said bracket to a point intermediate the ends upwardly and outwardly inclined supporti mediate its ends, a connecting rod connecting a-nge, a bracket on each louver intership, said brackets having upwardlyl and outwardly inclined supporting anges, louvers mounted on said supporting flanges between said flanges and said posts, a second supporting means on said brackets, connecting rods having a hook on their ends adapted to be received by said last mentioned supporting means, and a bifurcated bracket on each louver intermediate its ends, and means for engaging the bifurcated portion of'each of said brackets on said connecting rods whereby each louver maybe connected at a.

point intermediate its ends, to the bracket next above on the supporting posts.

7. A cooling tower comprising a plurality of supporting posts, brackets secured to the supporting posts in superimposed relationship, said brackets having upwardly andv outwardly inclined supporting ianges, lou

. vers mounted on said supporting flanges between said iianges and said posts, a second supporting means on sald brackets, connect- 111g rods having a hook on their ends adapt- .ed to be received by said last mentioned supporting means, and a bifurcated bracket on each louver and means for engaging thebifurcated portion of each of said brackets on said connecting rods whereby each louver may be connected at a point to the bracket next above on the supporting posts.

8. A cooling tower comprising a plurality of supporting posts, brackets secured to the supporting posts in superimposed relationship, said brackets having upwardly and outwardly inclined supporting anges, louvers mounted on said supporting ianges between said flanges and saidposts', a second supporting means on said brackets, connecting rods having a hook on their ends adapted to be received by said last mentioned supporting means, and a bifurcated bracket on each-louver and means for engaging the bifurcated portion of each of said brackets on said connecting rods whereby each louver may be connected at a point to the bracket next above on the supporting posts, and mea-ns for adjusting the inclination of said louvers.

9.1A cooling tower including a plurality of supporting posts, brackets secured to the supporting posts, louvers resting at their A lower ends upon the brackets, second brackets connected to said louvers at a point outwardly from the supporting posts, said second brackets having bifurcated portions, connecting rods having their ends connected to said brackets on said supporting posts, the other ends of said connecting rods being threaded and thrust nuts on said threaded portion adapted to be received on either side of said bifurcated portion, whereby an adjustment of said louvers is made possible.

, 10. In a cooling tower of the class described, a plurality of supporting posts, angular brackets secured to said lsupporting posts in superimposed relationship, saidpoints intermediate the ends of each louver next below said bracket, serving to fasten the same to said brackets. y

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this speciiication. i

J. SIMON FLUOR. 

